Bessemer City

Population: 5,340

Bessemer City, located in the western section of the County at the foot of Whetstone Mountain, was incorporated in 1892. Prior to the War Between the States, the mining of ore was a profitable enterprise for Bessemer City. The City acquired its name from the process by which steel is made from pig iron. The process, pioneered by Sir Henry Bessemer, is known as the Bessemer Process. Now, over a hundred years later, Bessemer City is again a mining center. The Lithium Corporation of America has erected an impressive $7,000,000 plant to process the rich vein of spodumene found in abundance in this area. In addition, Bessemer City is the location of two mills and enjoys a considerable retail trade from farming.